It is understood that Mel wanted to bring his own team of backroom staff to the Hawthorns, but the Baggies wanted to stick with their own coaches like Keith Downing and Dean Kiely, who have been at the club since 2011.

Former Osasuna boss Jose Luis Mendilibar and ex-Liverpool defender Mauricio Pellegrino have been mentioned as possible candidates - as has Paul Clement, who is currently assistant to Carlo Ancelotti at Real Madrid.